Chapter 5: Defiled Inheritance
Character Change: Viralious - Winter Schnee
Location City of Atlas: Schnee Manor.
A light knocking on the door woke Winter from her slumber, opening her eyes as she glances around her neat and orderly room. The walls are a light shade of blue with white accents. Light filters in through a large window behind drawn curtains, and a soft rug surrounds her large bed.
A second knock summons her from her bed where she opens the door to only talk to the person on the other side.
"Miss Schnee, your Father has asked for everyone to come to breakfast this morning. I believe He wished to see you off towards the Academy" a young servant said through the door.
Biting her lip,
"Thank you Regina, I'll be down in a moment… How's Weiss holding up?"
"She's refused to come out of her room, not even Klein was able to coax her out with hot chocolate… I think she'll come see you off if that's what you're worried about."
"Thank you, now if you excuse me I need to get ready"
Closing the door. Winter breathes a heavy sigh thinking back to a conversation with her father, when she told him she planned to become a huntress.
"A Huntress? Bah, why would my daughter feel the need to become something so boorish!"
"Father, I understand your concerns but I can uphold the family name as a huntress! Like my grandfather, I will do-"
"Your grandfather was a disillusioned patsy and would have ruined this company if I hadn't stepped in! Now Winter, you should put your Idle dreams behind you and focus on the company. The Schnee family doesn't need an idealistic Huntress, it needs a strong heiress."
Winter looked at her father and grit her teeth, she then grabbed her scroll and looked her father dead in the eye.
"No. I'm not giving up on being a Huntress just because you want me to. There's nothing you can do to stop me, and if you try I'll tell the council what happened to Holli
Her father looked Winter dead in the eye, then slapped her across the face.
"Insolent child! You think you can blackmail me! Bah, fine you can become a huntress, but unless you want to lose your title you'll stay in Atlas. I don't need you Winter, I have two other children who can take your place."
Shaking her head, Winter recenters herself and changes into her combat attire, a blue and white combat short dress with light blue trim along the stitch and seams running to puffy sleeves pooling to her elbows. Elegant thigh High boots stretch down her legs and simple gray and white gloves on her hands. Most importantly, she adjusts her white hair to hang short.
Getting up she sighs and makes her way to the door before stopping and looking at her room, gazing at the cold features. Shaking her head she walks out and resolves herself that starting today things will be better.
Winter instead of going to the dining room she walks towards her sister's room where their butler, Klein, is standing outside with a cup of what Winter can only assume is hot cocoa. Smiling slightly, Winter calls to the butler.
"Hello Klein, how's Weiss doing?"
Turning slightly startled Klein responds "Ah, Miss Schnee, I'm sorry I didn't notice you approaching. As for little Weiss, she refused to exit her room, I'm afraid she doesn't want you to leave."
This was a little surprise to Winter, over the past few weeks Weiss had refused to leave her side, even curling up next to her to sleep. Her five year old sister was always enthralled by Winter's training and must have been immensely saddened over the fact she wouldn't be able to see her as everyday, after all any warmth in the Schnee manor was welcome to get away from the cold stare of their father.
Reaching over for the cup on the tray Winter says with a smile
"Do you mind if I give it a go?"
"Certainly, Miss Schnee, if you need anything please just say the word." Klein hands her the cup and slowly turns to walk away.
Smiling Winter turns to her sister's door and knocks
A small voice from inside the room says
"Go away!"
"Weiss, may I come in?"
A small shuffling is heard from the room before the door is thrown open
"WINTER!" Weiss says before jumping to hug her sister,
"Weiss please be careful I have hot cocoa for you. Wouldn't want to spill it on you." Kneeling down, she hands the cup down to her sister.
Weiss grabs the cup and begins quickly drinking a smile plastered on her face before shifting to a soft frown.
"Winter… Do you have to leave to go to the Academy? Couldn't you just continue getting taught by your tutors?"
"No Weiss, I can't. To become a Huntress I have to go attend one of the Academies, I understand you wish I could stay but this is something that I have to do."
Weiss looks down into the cup before saying in a shaky voice
"You promise you won't forget about me?"
Taken aback slightly Winter stumbles out
"What makes you think that I would?"
"You'll have so many people at the academy, one of my tutors said that you form teams that normally create lifelong friendships and become family. So you won't forget about me, your sister?"
Smiling Winter responds
"Weiss, I could never forget you, nothing will ever change that. You will always be my little sister." Pulling her into a tight hug.
Content with her answer, Weiss pulls herself deeper into Winter's hug and smiles.
"I have a gift for you, Mom helped me make it"
Winter puzzled says
"Oh, and what did you make, Weiss?"
Breaking out of the hug Weiss, moves to her bedside table and grabs a small box before handing it to Winter.
"Go on, open it."
Reaching over and removing the lid, inside the box is a small headband with a silver crown with a dark blue interior.
"Oh Weiss it's beautiful, thank you!"
She picks up the headband and places it onto her head.
"So, what do you think?" her sister says beaming
"It's perfect, thank you Weiss" Winter responds pulling her sister into another hug.
The two are interrupted by quiet voice
"It looks beautiful, Winter. Your sister put a lot of work into it. I'm glad you like it."
Their mother stands in front of the door with a warm smile on her face.
Weiss moves up towards her mother opening her hands for a hug
"Mama!"
Wrapping one arm around Weiss, their mother says.
"Yes, Weiss, it's good to see you too. Now I hate to interrupt this moment but your father wants everyone to eat breakfast together before Winter has to go to the Academy. "
Grabbing Weiss by the hand, their mother begins walking towards the dining room with Winter and Weiss following.
The Schnee manor dining room is large gray and elegant, there sitting at the head of the table is Jacques Schnee, Winter's father. Sitting there he's drinking a small cup of what is presumably coffee. His black hair is beginning to turn white signaling his older age. Turning he notices family enter and says
"Glad to see you all decided to join me, after all today is a bittersweet day. Winter's moving to continue her schooling at Atlas Academy, we should take the time to dine as… A family."
His smile is fake and it's obvious every word is theatrics to the rest of the family; Winter sees in his eyes his true words.
You're late and I am losing my patience with you.
Speaking up quickly Winter stammers out
"Sorry about the delay father, I was getting ready and went to check on Weiss, She then gave me a wonderful gift" Pointing to the crown resting atop her head
Jacques' raises one eyebrow before smirking and saying
"It fits you wonderfully, as the Heiress of the Schnee dust company."
Grimacing Winter see's what's left unsaid
Don't forget your image, you're easy to replace.
Sitting down, Winter eats her simple breakfast only to answer questions to her father and sister.
When they are done, the family exits and moves to the foyer where Winter's bags are already waiting to be loaded into the car.
Winter turns to her family as her mother pulls her into a hug.
"Don't forget to call Winter, and remember the door is always open"
Next Weiss pulls Winter into a hug and through small tears.
"Please don't forget to Visit, I'll miss you."
Smiling Winter Hugs her sister back saying
"I won't Weiss, When I get back I'll show you what a real huntress can do"
Weiss lifts her head into a Smile and pulls away, gripping her mothers hand.
Winter then looks at her father, who has a stern look on his face displaying no warmth.
Sighing Winter raises her hand and waves goodbye, stepping into the limo that will take her to the airship station. Lowering her head she closes her eyes and tries to prepare herself for the first day.
Character Change: Winter Schnee - Ifiral Phenrix
Location City of Mantle: Burnt hotel remnants
The sound of construction equipment pulls Ifiral from the ice cold embrace of sleep. He glances down towards his scroll and sees that his alarm hadn't gone off yet. Sighing, he grabs his bag he was using as a pillow and begins to change into his combat attire.
First his red threaded shirt with a belt modified to allow him to carry his bag from, next he puts on his gray baggy pants adorned with multiple pockets and belts to keep them in place. Next his combat boots, with small tufts of fur lining the top.
Attaching his burnt arm guard to his hand he moves to pick up his weapon, a large two handed-blade with a seam in the middle with slots to load dust magazines into. Gripping the red leather handle he swings it one hand over his shoulder and attaches it to his back. He then pulls out his scroll and sees the time, 8AM, his reflection is plastered over the screen, his face scarred with a burn mark on his right cheek creating a blemish on his tanned skin.
Glancing over the burnt out remnants of the hotel he was staying, in he grits his teeth before turning away and leaving the remains to the cold of Solitas.
–
"Hello, what can I get you, sir?" the barista at the coffee shop said to him.
Ifiral holds up two fingers to indicate he wants a black coffee, then he points to the muffins on display behind the counter.
"Ok one black coffee and a muffin, is there anything else?" Ifiral shakes his head " Ok then, your total comes to 11 Lien and what name should we put the order in as?
Reaching into his pocket Ifiral grabs his wallet and pulls out a 50 Lien card before handing to the barista, and says
"Ifiral"
Grabbing the card, the barista writes his name onto the cup. She then reaches into the register and hands him his change. Ifiral looks at the change and then to the empty tip jar sitting on the counter. He places the full amount into the jar.
"Thank you for your generosity. It will be ready in just a moment."
Ifiral grabs a seat and brushes his auburn hair out of his face, closing his hazel eyes. Remembering a night one year ago.
The fires burned brightly, engulfing everything in the room.
Ifiral Looked on as the roof collapsed to where his family was. Then out of the corner of his eyes he sees one person fleeing the scene.
"Ifiral, one black coffee and plain muffin for Ifiral" a barista shouts, pulling him from his trance.
Thanking the staff as he grabs his breakfast, Ifiral leaves the coffee shop towards the mantle airship docks, the fires still burning into his skin.
–
Character Change: Ifiral Phenrix - Winter Schnee
Location Atlas Academy: Airship dock
–
Disembarking the airship, Winter felt alone. Other students poured off the airship with her, lost in conversations with each other and yet she stood alone Isolated. She didn't go to shelter or another school before Atlas, she was taught by the best tutors that Atlas offered.
Glancing around she looked and took in her classmates, first a blonde-haired girl talking on the phone with her family, doing some sort of baby talk to a brother of sorts.
Behind her was a chestnut haired boy who looked drenched in camo listening to music on oversized headphones. He was tossing a ball into the air continuously and catching it with his other hand.
On her left was a Small deer Faunus who had her dark orange hair in twin pigtails. On her back was a shield and looked like some sort of thrusting weapon.
Catching her gaze the deer faunus looked away quickly and shifted her pace away from Winter. This action caused Winter to grimace. She knew her family's company didn't have the greatest record with its faunus workers but she always felt that it was wrong and something that she would change when she inherited the company. Yet everyone viewed her as her father… never as herself.
"Hey Schnee bitch, you gonna keep looking at Faunus like their your new slaves?"
Shocked Winter turns around and sees two goat faunus staring daggers at her.
"What did you say to me?" Winter says with a mix of anger and confusion.
"We're calling you out for looking down on the faunus you bitch, I mean it's obvious that your looking down at us because we're faunus you cu-"
"She's looking down at you cause you're acting like right bastards" a rough voice from Winter's left. Turning there stands a fox faunus with turquoise hair wearing a black bra, gray gloves and baggy pants curling into combat boots.
Taken aback slightly by the girl's appearance, Winter stammers for what to say. As the faunus continues
"Look I get it the Schnee Dust Company has definitely treated the faunus like their nothing, but let's be honest here, that's probably all her father. So why don't you fuck off and go back to jerking each other off, ya White Fang wannabes"
All three looked at the fox faunus like she was putting on clown make-up. Then Winter speaks up
"She's right, Look I understand my family has… Damaged faunus relations in Atlas but I don't agree with my father on everything with the company. Our treatment of faunus is one of those-"
"Save it ice bitch, look we see the crown your wearing you can talk all you want about supporting the faunus but you still think your so high and mighty and will never understand what we have went can't wait to see you flunk out" the two goat faunus then turned around and walked away leaving winter and the fox faunus looking alone.
"Thank you for step-"
"Don't think I want to be friends with you Schnee, I only stepped in cause faunus like them give the rest a bad name." the fox faunus said walking away.
Winter stood there confused and alone. Hanging her head down, she thinks
This isn't how I expected today to go
Before walking towards the main auditorium, and taking a seat in the front row.
When she suddenly hears a loud thunk behind her. Turning around she sees a man with auburn hair holding one of the goat faunus from before with one hand and the other one was on the ground like he had been thrown.
Then the man with auburn hair threw the goat faunus into the other one and took a seat a few behind her.
"He's got quite the temper, wouldn't you agree?" a voice on her right says. Turning, she notices one person she wishes she hadn't: Eckhart slate. Nephew of the General and notoriously a stuck-up prick.
I don't know, those two might have deserved it" she responded smugly.
"Hah, How very Jacques of you" Eckhart replied with sarcasm.
Getting annoyed with Eckhart she turns her head away and sees a boy wearing a purple collared shirt with a light rose pattern paired with a gray and silver vest covering his torso. Gray and black pants filtered down past his belt and towards his boots. Looking at her and Eckhart before glancing to the stage.
Before she could ask Eckhart about the boy, Ironwood takes the stage, bearing a militaristic stance before speaking.
"For years each and everyone of you has trained for long to become the greatest shield that humanity has against the Grimm. Every single one of you has earned your spot here at Atlas Academy. For that I congratulate all of you but it doesn't matter what your rank was previously. You are now all equal and will tomorrow undergo initiation to determine your teams for the next 4 years. But for now you will report to the training area and prepare a place to sleep. Men will be on the green side and Women on the blue side. Also please remember you will be supervised so please keep your actions to those you would want your parents to see. Each one of you already has a locker assigned to your scrolls. Feel free to store your weapons and equipment in there, if you would like to tour the facilities please ask the staff they will direct you. Lastly, dinner will be served in the cafeteria at 6PM sharp, then lights out is at 10PM. You have a big day ahead of you so I would recommend getting some that I welcome you all to Atlas Academy." With that Ironwood exited the stage and a rough maroon haired professor took the stage and announced for everyone to follow him.
Winter stole a glance back to the boy from earlier and noticed he had already gotten up to leave.
Sighing, Winter went to join the group moving towards the training rooms.
–
The campus was large and easily took her until dinner time to fully explore the grounds. As for dinner itself… It wasn't the expertly prepared food that she was used to but it was nutritionally sufficient for huntsmen and huntresses in training. She assumed as why else would they serve it. She ate alone by her own choice this time.
Placing her tray on top of the trash can she pulls out her scroll and notices she still has over 3 hours before lights out. Thinking through the tour she had previously, she remembers the dust workshop on the third floor. Deciding she can at least prepare her dust cartridges for tomorrow.
–
Arriving at the dust workshop, Winter takes a look around, it's empty except for the purple shirt boy from earlier. Sighing she places her cartridges and vials of dust on the table next to the boy.
Both are silently loading their cartridges not acknowledging the other.
This goes on for over an hour before Winter glances over her dust reserves and can't find her wind dust vial. She frantically looks around her bag before realizing she had taken it out to show her sister the night before and must have forgotten to put it back.
Taking a deep break, Winter gets up and approaches the boy.
"Hello I'm sorry to bother you but could I borrow some of your wind dust, I must have forgotten mine back at home."
The boy glances up before nodding and handing her the vial.
"Thank you" she then fills her cartridge and hands it back to him.
The boy takes the cartridge back and looks her in the eyes.
"So what's your name?" the boy asks
Taken aback that someone doesn't recognize her Winter stammers
"Are you serious? You don't know who I am? I'm Winter Schnee, daughter of Jaques and Willow Schnee. Heiress to the Schnee Dust Company. Now who are you?"
"Name's Viralious, last name isn't important"
Raising an eyebrow Winter asks
"And why is it not?"
"Because I have to do something before I can call myself it again. Besides it really doesn't matter"
"No it does matter! People knowing who your family is important!" Winter yells with small amounts of anger.
"Why is that important? Really why does it matter who my family is? So I can be recognized for my mother's achievements? I would rather be recognized for who I am and not who my parents are'" Viralious says with an eyebrow raised and a tense conviction in his voice.
"I… Um… *Sigh* alright, if you don't feel it's important"
"Right it's not. Anyhow if you don't mind me asking what do you think initiation is going to be?"
A smug voice from behind them answers
"It's going to be a combat trial, live fire and no life lines"
Both turning around see the source of the voice: Eckhart Slate.
Eckhart then glances over to Viralious before smirking
"Oh I'm surprised you made it in without a gun on your weapon"
Viralious just smirks back and responds
"Oh, I did incorporate one into it. By the way, thanks for leaving those designs, the one about the dual blades swapping to dual SMGs was instrumental in making a baseline for the final design. I don't think I would have been able to get through the aptitude test without it."
Eckhart's eyebrows twitched slightly before coughing
"I was wrong about you Viralious, you might actually be someone worth keeping an eye on."
Just then the man with auburn hair walks in and places a lot of dust cartridges onto the table with his weapon.
All three look at him with suspense as he pulls out what looks like to be a cartoonishly large amount of fire dust from his bag and begins filling the cartridges and magazines with them.
Viralious is the first to break the silence
"Hey buddy, you know there are other types of dust, right? Might be smart to diversify"
The auburn man just looks at him and shrugs before going back to filling the cartridges
Eckhart is the next to address him
"Alright I'll bite, what's with the only fire dust cause there has to be a reason"
The man just looks up again before answering
"Fire's natural to me." he then goes back to filling the cartridges
"He's a man of few words." Viralious says in a low whisper to Winter and Eckhart.
Breathing in Slightly Winter is the last to speak
"So I noticed before the generals speech you threw the two goat faunus, mind if I ask why?"
Looking up again the Man spits out
"They insulted my scars"
"Ironic, considering their faunus they should understand what it's like to be picked on for something they had no control over" Eckhart says with a casual tone
Viralious just shakes his head before moving across from the auburn man and says
"I think we should introduce ourselves, My names Viralious, last name not important" he then points to Winter cuing her to introduce herself next.
"My name's Winter Schnee. Pleasure to meet you"
"Eckhart Slate"
The auburn man just looks at the three of them before smiling slightly
"Hmph, Name's Ifiral Phenrix now if your going to keep interrupting me you might as well pick up a cartridge and help me fill them"
Viralious smirks and picks up a vial of fire dust and joins him. Before motioning to Winter and Eckhart to try and get them to join.
Smirking, Eckhart walks over and joins in but saying only loud enough that Winter could pick up on
"This is going to be an interesting year."
Winter then looks at the three all sitting at one desk, and decides to not spend her night in isolation moving to join them.
–
The night went quickly after that. Everyone sat and sorted the dust talking about their experiences laughing and listening to Eckhart giving them a run down on what the initiation would be like.
"So they're going to fly each of us into the middle of the wastes and drop us into different tunnels that connect to a central network of an old mined out dust mine. Each drop is randomized and connected in odd ways. So the goal is to collect a relic in the middle of the mine and move to an exit for extraction."
It seemed simple enough but there was still something missing, how teams would be determined from this test. It just seemed like an easy way to gauge everyone's skill, maybe they would group people on how they performed.
Closing her eyes, deciding that it would be best to focus on tomorrow, Winter goes to let sleep claim her. But something rattles itself in her head.
Why is that important? Really why does it matter who my family is? So I can be recognized for my mother's achievements? I would rather be recognized for who I am and not who my parents are.
Was her name really that important?
Character Change: Winter Schnee - ?
Location: City of Mantle: Back Alley
"GAHHHHHHHH"
The long blade cut through the soldier's chest killing him instantly.
"Foolish to even attempt it. Wouldn't you agree?"
Turning ,the murderer addresses a man wearing a coat and mask bearing a symbol of a map with a cross through it.
"Indeed, It was a foolish endeavor."
The murderer sighs before saying
"Remember, I'm only here because my mistress wants me to be. I am not one of your cultists to order around. Keep that in mind before I have to take care of your trash again."
The two men walk away into the night.
A\N
So we finally meet the two final members of team VIEW! Winter was the main focus of this chapter so we'll start with her first. I wanted to display her family situation as deteriorating but not completely falling apart. Remember, Willow didn't hear Jacques say he only married her for the name until Weiss's 10th birthday so 5 years later then this chapter takes place. So with that I wanted to show that Willow is still in their children's life and was actively trying to be a good mom.
I also wanted to explore Winter and Weiss' relationship a little bit. From the show it's obvious that Weiss looks up to Winter, both as a mentor and as a person. With that I tried to write Winter as a caring Sister to try and foster that naturally. Probably failed because my experience with family dynamics is purely as the youngest child.
Now on to her design, I wanted to show a younger but still elegant design (Also sticking to the confines with Code Vein's character creator. Why limit myself to that you might ask? Well, visualizing a character helps a lot and I can't draw.) I chose to keep her hair shorter to make it so she's not just a carbon copy of Weiss, or the Winter in the show. Theoretically I should show what makes winter grow from the Heiress to the specialist she is in the show proper.
Side tangent: what the hell is Atlassian military structure? Winter is basically Ironwood's right hand in the show yet she's a specialist.
That brings us to the final member of the Team Ifiral Phenrix, his name is a pun on Ifrit and his last name is a joke to a misspelling of Phoenix. Not much to talk about him right now but we can see he is a quiet no nonsense person who is fine with violence.
Swapping back to the docks, the characters described but not named are important to the story (4 of which play a bigger role than others). The goat faunus' are just a plot device so I don't have much to say about them. The whole point of their exchange with Winter is I wanted to throw Weiss' speech about the faunus back at her and yeah it's probably badly written but I'm trying.
This brings us to the dust workshop scene. So you know how RWBY has everyone meet up that night, I figured this would be the way to do it. Introduce the team to each other and get a little bit of characterization in for each.
Lastly is the ? at the end of the chapter, I need to set up the big bad. At some point might as well start now.
Next chapter we will begin the Initiation.
Xcom out.
